Separable-part insulator.



A. 0. AUSTIN.

SEPARABLE PART INSULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29 Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

wazzzess UNITED sures ARTHUR O. AUSTIN, 0F BARBEETON, OHIO, ASSIGNOlZt TO THE OHIQ BRASS CQlViPANY, OF MANSFIELD, OHIQ, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEIPARABLE-PART INSULATGZE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

llatenterl Jan.

Application filed my 29, 191G. Serial No. 100,484.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR O. AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bar berton, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inseparable-Part insulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an insulator consisting of a plurality of separate parts so arranged and constructed that they maybe connected and detached from one another at the joints without destroying any of the parts. The invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of an insulator constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail of a portion of one of the joints; Fig.

3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a different form of the insulator to which the invention is also applicable. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail of shell interlocking means.

At the present timeit ,is the usual custom in uniting several pieces of porcelain, or porcelain and metals to make a non-separable joint, by filling the space between the two parts with a cement which will in time harden, making it absolutely impossible to separate the parts without destroying one or more of them. This is an expensive way of constructing multi-part insulators from the customers standpoint for the reason that he may have some very large expensive pieces costing several dollars each, and while in service may have one small part broken which, with the present construction, means that the whole insulator must be destroyed or thrown-away, but with the proposed improvement in construction as contemplated in this invention it is possible to detach the defective piece and replace it with another at a comparatively small expense. There is also an advantage from the manufacturers standpoint and this is that the parts to be assembled can be tested out in assembled condition then taken apart and packed, it being possible to pack the unassembled pieces to better advantage than the assembled insulator. Also if a piece is broken in a non-separable part insulator while being handled in the factory the manufacturer would be at a total loss for the whole insulator. The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned ditlicult-ies by providing threaded sleeves or shields which are separately secured to each insulator part and are of a size to permit one sleeve to be inserted within the other. This allows the insulator parts to be separated or assembled, as desired.

insulators usually consist of a number of pieces of porcelain or similar insulating material represented in Fig. 1 by the parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. These parts are usually formed with portions which may be inserted one within the other and with extending flanges or petticoats. The adjacent cooperating surfaces by which the insulators commonly secured together are provided with notches, ridges, projections or grooves 5 which constitute means for causing the uniting cement to adhere more closely to the attached surfaces. I

Instead of uniting the insulator parts directly with acement- 6, which is the common practice, the present invention contemplates securing to each cooperating surface of each insulator part a thin shell or, shield 7 or 8 which is secured to its corresponding insulator part by cement 6. These shells may be of metal or some fibrous material of sui'iicient strength and stifi'ness to hold its shape and also sufliciently non-absorbent to resist taking up any moisture that may be in the cement.

The material must be of substan tial stiffness so that when pressed in the form of threads or the like it will hold. its shape when applied to the insulator parts. After the shells 7 or 8 are separately secured to the corresponding insulator parts, the parts may be threaded one within the other, the threaded shields preventing the insulator parts from being separated without rotating them and there being a sufiicient space between the threads of the sleeves or shells to permit expansion and contraction of the parts relatively to each other without subjecting any one of the parts to undue stress or strain which would tend to disrupt it and break down the insulation.

it is obvious, of course that both oi: the shells 7 or 8 may be of rnetai, or they may both be of fibrous material of one may be metal and the other fibrous material. It is found that a fairly stifl' paper pressed to shape in molds and treated before or after pressing into shape with parattin wax, elastic varnish or some similar material which makes it non-absorbent is entirely satisfactory for this purpose.

A slightly different construction is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in which the insulator iiistead of consisting of a plurality of porcelain parts comprises a porcelain part 9, a metal suspension cap 10 and a metal suspending pin 11. cap 10 is formed with a cup-shaped portion 12 joined to the suspension portion by a thin metal portion 13, and with ridges 14 inside of the cup. A threaded shell or shield 15 is secured inside of the cup 12 by cement 16, and a shell 17 is secured to that portion of the insulator 9 which extends ,within the cup by means of cement 16 which adheres to a roughened surface 18. Interposcd between the lower edge of the cup 12, and the top of theinsulator 9, is a'pad 19 of yielding material to prevent the metal edge of tlie'suspension cap from abrading the surface of the insulator. The inside of the insulator is formed with a recess 20- in which a threaded (shell 21 is securedto aroughened surface by cement 23. The metal pin 11 is formed with a threaded extremity 24 which is adapted to be inserted in the threaded shell 21 for securing itto the insulator. It is obvious,

of course, that this shell 21 may be of metal or fiber. or any suitable material as previously set forth.

It is contemplated that the insulator parts which are inserted one within the other may be provided only with a cooperating shell of cement which adheres to the adjacent surface of the insulating part. The cement shells may be formed with threads, so that the parts may be screwed one within the other, the. looseness of the thread allowing for a considerable amount of expansion or contraction due to heat,-or the cemented surfaces may be painted, coated or sprayed before connection with some yielding material, such as paraflin, wax, or an elastic varnish. It is also contemplated that the socalled shells or coatings of the separate parts designated by the numerals 7 and 8 may be a solid or metal that will fuse, like lead; a yielding substance like wax or paratiin. that will melt; or a normally hard substance that will soften under heat and permit the sep- In this construction the tween the parts.

it may not be necessary to heat the parts to separate them" or to connect them together, but if the connecting shells are of metal or other materials, it may be necessary to heat the parts to connect or separate them. \Vith this construction, the damage and loss from breakage is reduced to a minimum, for if one part is broken, it is necessary only to replace it with a similar part, the yielding coating or sleeve permitting a material variation between the parts, but still enabling them to be used interchangeably.

Owing to the warping of porcelain, glass, or similar substances it is practically impossible to provide them with surfaces which will match up properly with corresponding surfaces so as to hold the parts together. lVith the construction adopted, however, th uneven insulating parts may have threads or surfaces which engage each other of such uniformity that a proper mechanical union can be obtained. It is obvious that a thread of cement, metal or other material may be cast around the insulating members'using the shells of metal, wax or fibrous material, or a mold which may be removed and used repeatedly. Where a thin shell is used it may be necessary to hold it in a form while the cement setting or while the material used forformin'g the projections or threads is cooling.

It is not necessary that the material used for the shells, or inserted between the surfaces and acting as a cushion or to distribute the stress, be non-absorbent, imless the insulator is used in such a manner that' water can be taken up by capillary attraction. In fact, a material such as paper which will absorb water may be used 'to advantage for water absorbed during assembly causingthe paper shell or shells to swell, will displace the soft cement, but later will dry out and permit shrinkage and slight clearance be- This clearance will permit of uneven expansion of the parts without setting up high mechanical stress in the insulating members.

Wherethe sleeve or shell-is made of an elastic or yielding material it is obvious that undue mechanical stress can be prevented even if the insulator can not be separated. In this case the sleeve. shell, or coat ing of insulating material has uneven projections, indentations or corrugations which preferably match up so that the parts can not detached even ifthe shell, sleeve or coating will run or flow under working conditions.

In some instances it is advisable to lock the parts so that they can not become detat-lied under working conditions. In Fig.

5 is shown a portion of two cooperating or joined cement. surfaces 27 and 28 separated by sleeves 29 and 30 respectively. These sleeves may be locked or fastened together in any suitable manner for preventing their separation under ordinary working conditions, such means comprising a pin 31' inserted in suitable recesses 32 extending into each cement shell; or a portion of the sleeved may be omitted causing the cement of the shells to unite, as at point indicated by the numeral 33; the sleeves may be provided with indentations 34 in which a body of cement 35 or some other material is placed. All of these locks must be removed or broken before the metal sleeves can be moved relatively to each other for separating them. Or, if metal sleeves or inserts are used they may be correspondingly indented, as designated by the reference 36 and 37, and must be straightened out when it is desired to take the shells or insulator members apart. Another method is to provide a groove 38 and a corresponding projection 39 which may be made by the cement of the shell or other material in contact with the shells. When it is desired to separate two insulator parts this portion may be chipped or broken away and replaced when reassembled. In this case no extra effort or expense will be required to form the lock. By properly proportioning the parts producing the locking projections of cement or metal, or other material locking the parts together, they may be broken by twisting or pulling. When the parts are screwed together, a spring, a lead pin or other devicesmay be used. It is obvious that all or any, of such locking devices may be provided between any two insulating members.

This methodof assembly not only provides means for ready assembling or disassembling parts, thereby permitting a saving of a portion of the insulator if one part becomes broken, but provides means for preventing excessive mechanical stress during operation. In addition, the method provides attaching surfaces at a low cost. Where attaching surfaces have been machined or cut on the parts or in a layer of material adhering to the porcelain or insulating member, the cost has previously been too great although possessing some advantages.

Another satisfactory method of making the insulators is to form a threaded or desired locking surface on one of the insulating parts by casting, or molding it in a suit-- able die. After removing it from the die the cast surface may be coated with Wax, paint, or other material to provide an elastic coating or to prevent cement from adhering thereto. This member may then be inserted in the insulating member or metal cap containing cement or other material which will then he formed by the coated and hardened surface inserted in it to cooperate with the previously formed surface. It is not necessary that the surface formed by a mold-or die be the outside surface for it is evident that if either the outer or inner surface is formed by a die or mold the other surface will be formed by the method of assembly and without additional cost. This construction is fairly illustrated by any one of Figs. 1 to 4, if it is considered that either one or both of the shells or shields 7 8 or 15, 17 are made of an elastic coating, as above set forth, instead of paper, metal or other suitable material.

lVhat I claim is; p

1. In aninsulator, the combination with separate insulating parts, of means separately secured to one or both of the parts for connecting them detachably together, and material applied to said means where the parts are connected together which is susceptible to the action of heat for permitting expansion and contraction of the parts due to changes in temperature.

2. In an insulator, the combination with separate insulating members insertible one within the other, of material secured to each of the insulating parts for connecting them detachably together, and a yieldable substance interposed between the said parts by applying it to the surface of the said material before or after the insulator parts are inserted one within theother which is susceptible to the act-ion of heat allowing the expansion and contraction of the parts and facilitating separation of the parts when heated to a predetermined extent.

3. In an insulator, the combination with separate insulator parts, insertible one within the other, and cement shells adhering to each of said parts and having threads for screwing the parts one within the other, said threads comprising yieldable shells which form a projection between the cement adhering to each of the adjacent parts.

4. In an insulator, the combination with separate insulator parts insertible one within the other, of cement adhering to each of the separate parts and formed between them with a separation surface comprising a sleeve of yieldable material difi'erin in substance from the cement and forming each part with corresponding threads when the cement is set.

5. In an insulator, the combination with separate insulator parts insertible one within the other, of a detachable securing surface formed on one of the parts,a yielding coatingapplied to the surface of the cement, and a cooperating securing part consisting of cement which adheres to the other part and has threads corresponding with the cast or molded surface which do not adhere to the molded surface because of the coating applied thereto.

6. In an insulator, the combination with separate insulator parts insertible onewithin the other, of shells secured to each separate part and threaded together, and a frangible lock joining the separate shells which must be broken before they can be separated.

7. In an insulator, the combination with separate insulator parts insertible one within the other, of a shell of cement adhering to one part having a threaded surface, a yielding coating applied thereto, and another cement shell attached to a cooperating insulator part and having a thread formed in its surface and separated from the first mentioned shell'by the said yielding coating.

8. In an insulator, the combination with,

an insulating member having an irregular roughened surface and a shell of cement adhering thereto formed on its outer surface with connecting threads, a coating of yielding material applied to the threaded surface, and a metal insulator part with an attached shell of cement having a thread formed on Copies of this patent niay be obtained for its surface and separated from the shell of the insulating part by the said coating.

9. In an insulator, the combination with separate insulator parts insertible one within the other, of cement shells adhering to each separate part and formed with cooperating separation surfaces with a yielding coating separating the surfaces except at one or more places along their edges when the cement of the two shells is joined forming a frangible lock which must be broken before the insulator parts can be separated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 26th day of May, A. D. 1916. 1

ARTHUR. O. AUSTIN.

Witnesses: a

A. J. CRANE, C. H. SEEM.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

